GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed Guyana’s ongoing transformation and projected growth under the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.
Ali delivered remarks at the opening of the party’s 32nd Congress on Saturday.
The president reflected on the challenges preceding and during the 2020 elections, highlighting the significant tests to the country’s democratic credentials.
He pointed out that the previous government led the country on a downward spiral, denying thousands of Guyanese the opportunities to improve their lives.
“The APNU+AFC unleashed one of the harshest campaigns against the poor people of this country when they were in office. Amidst a failing economy and loss of jobs and income, what did the PNC do? They resorted to imposing 200 new taxes on the backs of the ordinary people. They plucked $110 billion out of the pockets of the ordinary people,” he told the gathering.
“We came to office, and in four short years, despite COVID, despite two major floods, we were able to deliver and fulfill within four years, more than 95 percent of the manifesto we went to the electorate with.” Ali.
To demonstrate this point, the president noted a 150 percent increase in the number of vehicles registered in 2023 compared to 2019.
The president said this increase represents the growth in disposable income for Guyanese and the bustling state of the growing economy.
He reminded us that under the previous government, more than 50,000 Guyanese were placed on the breadline, left without jobs and the means to support themselves and their families.
“Seven thousand sugar workers were sent on the breadline; children left school…they sent 50 percent of the bauxite workers home… $21 billion was lost in the sugar industry, and in the bauxite industry, $31 billion was lost. In the forestry sector, $9 billion was lost,” the head of state highlighted.
These sugar workers, who were also denied severance pay, received $1.3 billion from the current government.
Since assuming office, Ali said the PPP/C government has introduced 60,000 new jobs.
The sugar industry is also being revitalized, with over 1100 workers employed at the recently reopened Rose Hall Sugar Estate.
“We have reopened the sugar estates, brought back more than 7,000 sugar workers, increased bauxite workers, and will double the number of workers in the bauxite industry by the end of this year,” President Ali affirmed.
The president also pointed to several other elements that reflect the government’s impeccable track record and steadfast commitment to inclusive development.
This includes subsidized electricity in Linden, revolutionizing the road network, working towards self-sufficiency, expanding the housing program, access to quality education and healthcare, and direct investments in fortifying the pillars of the country’s economy.
According to the president, these initiatives are aligned with the One Guyana philosophy, which was created with a vision of uniting all Guyanese under a common umbrella of growth and prosperity.
“The One Guyana concept is not accidental. It was birthed after the last congress. When we designed this philosophy of creating a One Guyana, One Future, One People, the mandate of the leadership of the PPP was to walk every single street, every corner…reach out to every Guyanese, and bring back hope, aspirations, and vision to the people of Guyana,” the president stated.
This year’s congress is the largest yet, with over 3,000 delegates and observers. It is being held under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Defend Guyana, Unite, Our People for Progress and Prosperity.”
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